Grace Mugabe should be brought to order

The MDC would like to express its extreme displeasure  with the recent utterances that were made by Grace Mugabe when she was addressing a Zanu-PF rally in Rushinga on Wednesday, October 14,2015.In a hate - filled and rather discordant and incoherent speech that was broadcast live on the State - owned Zimbabwe Television, Grace Mugabe unashamedly and indeed, unconstitutionally declared that Mashonaland Central province is a so - called Zanu-PF stronghold and that no other political party should be allowed to come and campaign in this province. Spitting fire and brimstone, she literally threatened that all opposition political parties should never, ever be allowed to come and campaign in Mashonaland Central province.

It is a fact that Grace Mugabe is married to Robert Mugabe and thus, she carries the title of First Lady. It is also a fact that she is a very senior official of the crumbling and faction - ridden ruling party by virtue of her being the secretary of that party's Women's League. Thus, whatever Grace Mugabe says should be taken very seriously by all political players in Zimbabwe. Besides her violating the electoral laws of Zimbabwe by openly engaging in vote buying activities such as dishing out suits to traditional leaders as well as dolling out food and groceries to hungry and starving villagers, she also unlawfully ‘'donated'' several tractors to local Zanu-PF supporters .In fact, these tractors are State property that was recently acquired under the US$98 million facility that was advanced to the Government of Zimbabwe by the Government of Brazil.

With a First Lady in the mould of Grace Mugabe, who needs enemies? This woman is single - handedly destroying Zimbabwe's investment image by going around the country uttering very irresponsible, threatening and indeed, uncouth statements that tend to paint our country as a lawless banana republic in which all right - thinking and serious - minded domestic and/or foreign investor would find it extremely risky to establish their businesses. Capital is a coward and it will not  easily flow into a country in which there is disregard for the rule of law as well as rampant corruption. When a whole First Lady of a country utters thuggish and crude political statements that are tantamount to deeply entrenched and  intolerant hate speech ,both domestic and foreign investors will get justifiably very concerned and worried. In this respect, therefore, Grace Mugabe's reckless and ill - conceived political pronouncements at the Rushinga rally last week, are in extreme bad taste and also grossly unconstitutional. The Constitution of Zimbabwe guarantees freedom of association as well as freedom of assembly as fundamental and inalienable human rights. All political parties in Zimbabwe should be free to campaign in any part of the country without any undue hindrance  and/or unlawful interference.

Much as the MDC appreciates that Zanu-PF possesses the DNA of violence and intolerance, the uncouth utterances by Grace Mugabe at her Rushinga rally mark a new low in her rather very short and turbulent political career. This woman cannot have her cake and eat it. She has to be urgently brought to order. The mere fact that she is married to Robert Mugabe doesn't give her the right to trample upon the fundamental human rights of fellow Zimbabweans. We trust that the relevant law enforcement agencies shall take the necessary measures to ensure that Grace Mugabe's criminally  unlawful public utterances at Rushinga last week are thoroughly investigated. This woman is not above the law. The people of Zimbabwe expect her to conduct herself with honour, decency and integrity ; consistent with the lofty position  that she occupies as the country's First Lady.

OBERT CHAURURA GUTU
MDC NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON